Missio Malta is currently in the final preparations to celebrate World Missions Day on Sunday 22nd October 2023. The celebration, which shines a light on the work carried out by missionaries around the world thanks to the support of Missio Malta, shall take the form of a Missions' Village in the main square of Rabat, Malta, in front of the Basilica Collegiate Church of Saint Paul.
"This year, Pope Francis has invited us all to take a deeper commitment towards missionary work, as every Christian is called to be a missionary. Accepting the invitation to fill our hearts with fire, and have our feet constantly on the move, Missio Malta is keen to celebrate World Missions Day, as it spreads the message of the Gospel. This year, our message is perhaps rendered more poignant as we will be setting up our Missions Village right in front of the grotto where St Paul the Apostle, the Patron of all Missionaries, spent three months with the Maltese, teaching Christ's love. Let us be inspired by these events, to continue working closely with people in need," said Missio Malta National Director Rev. Victor Agius.
Missio Malta Head of Communications and Fund-Raising Robert Farrugia said that World Missions Day is yet another occasion for Missio Malta to share its enthusiasm with the Maltese public, for helping people in developing countries.
"World Missions Day is the culmination of an entire year's worth of work, that makes a serious difference in many people's lives in Africa, Asia and South America. This year in fact we will be shedding light on a number of projects, Missio Malta supports, among which a hospital in Tanzania, which needs our immediate attention. The very limited hospital caters for thousands of people from a very large area, yet it only has two medical doctors serving in it, who often have to make unthinkable decisions, as to who to save. Through the generous help of donors, Missio Malta will be able to support this hospital, improving the lives of an entire community in Tanzania," said Robert Farrugia.
For the same occasion Missio Malta has once again collaborated with Missio Australia in creating a video to raise awareness about the Holy Father's message on occasion of World Missions Day: https://youtu.be/ENLlhcchHXE?si=sYlkDvNjG0goXiPX
The video will be available in several languages, and will be adopted by 120 Missio Offices across the world. This is the 4th video Missio Malta has created since 2020, in the 'We are still here' series.
On occasion of World Missions Day, Holy Mass will be celebrated by HE Bishop Joseph Galea Curmi together with Missio Malta National Director Rev Victor Agius at 9:30am. The Mass will be broadcast on TV and social media.
To celebrate the special day, Missio Malta is holding a Missions Village in St Paul Square in Rabat, Malta. The village shall feature live music, interesting information about Missio Malta's work, a children's area, a gift shop as well as raise funds for important projects. Members of the public shall also be able to walk in the shoes of people in Africa who travel great distances every day to obtain potable water, through a Virtual Reality set-up which is complimented by treadmills.
For more information about World Missions Day please visit www.missio.org.mt or call 99137373.